Wastewater

The Town of Blacksburg owns, operates, and maintains the public wastewater collection system within the town limits. Collection system infrastructure includes: more than 140 miles of conventional gravity collection lines ranging in diameters from 8 to 24 inches; 23 conventional sewer pumping stations; and Septic Tank Effluent Gravity (STEG)/Septic Tank Effluent Pumped (STEP) alternative collection systems. Wastewater from the town is treated at the Blacksburg-VPI Sanitation Authority treatment plant, located seven miles to the southwest of town limits.

Wastewater service to the citizens of Blacksburg is a team effort between the Engineering/GIS and the Public Works Departments. The Engineering & GIS Department is responsible for: review and management of capital construction projects; hydraulic capacity evaluations; condition assessments; and construction plans and specifications. The Public Works Department is responsible for: operation, maintanance and construction activities associated with the existing system. These two departments work together to achieve the common goal of maintaining a reliable, cost effective, and responsive wastewater collection system.

The town is undertaking several approaches to evaluate more effective ways to operate the wastewater infrastructure as it ages and demands increase. A wastewater work group meets monthly to discuss issues associated with the wastewater infrastructure and seek alternative approaches to providing utility service in the most cost-effective and environmentally progressive way.